A total of 4,855 drug seizures were made in Kent in the year ending March 2024
Drug seizures hit a post-pandemic high in Kent in the latest year – and our map reveals the most popular substances.
A total of 4,855 drug seizures were made in Kent in the year ending March 2024, including 5,825 cannabis plants, 15kg of powdered cocaine, and 4,000 doses of ecstasy.
That was 6% higher than the 4,562 seizures the previous year and the largest number of seizures since the year ending March 2021, during the pandemic when many lockdown restrictions were in place.
The figures show that by far the most common drug seized by police last year was cannabis, which accounted for 70% of all drug seizures nationally. Powder cocaine was the next most popular drug and made up 10% of all seizures.
While cannabis is the most popular drug everywhere in England and Wales, and cocaine is the second most seized drug almost everywhere, Home Office data has revealed the next most popular drug in each police force area.
In Kent, that was crack cocaine with 141 seizures.
Commonly known as crack, it is a free-base version of cocaine that can be smoked. Repeated use can lead to respiratory failure, seizures, depression, and cardiomyopathy.
Heroin was the next most popular drug, with 139 seizures, followed by amphetamines (270 seizures).
However, with a total of 3,201 seizures in Kent, cannabis was by far the most common drug seized by police, followed by powder cocaine (473 seizures).
You can see the most popular drugs across the nation using our interactive map.
Benzodiazepines such as Valium or Xanax – which are both available on prescription to treat anxiety – were the most popular in Northumbria, Cumbria, Dyfed Powys and Devon and Cornwall.
Nitrous Oxide, or “laughing gas” was the drug of choice in Greater Manchester and Norfolk, Ketamine in North Wales, and amphetamines in Gwent.
In six police force areas, an “other” Class B drug was most commonly seized, which could include synthetic cannabinoids like Spice, Black Mamba, or Monkey Dust.
